Shellac (redirected from Shelac)

shellac, solution of lac in alcohol or acetone. In commerce the name is applied to the resinous substance (lac) itself rather than to the solution. It ranges in color from orange to light yellow depending upon the extent to which it has been purified; the darker shellacs are the less pure. When bleached it is known as white shellac. Applied to surfaces such as wood and plaster, the solution forms a hard coating upon evaporation of the solvent. Shellac is widely used as a spirit varnish, as a protective covering for drawings and plaster casts, for stiffening in the manufacture of felt hats, in making sealing wax, and in electrical insulation.

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shellac

1. a yellowish resin secreted by the lac insect, esp a commercial preparation of this used in varnishes, polishes, and leather dressings

2. a varnish made by dissolving shellac in ethanol or a similar solvent

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shellac [shə′lak]

(materials)

A natural, alcohol-soluble, water-insoluble, flammable resin; made from lac resin deposited on tree twigs in India by the lac insect (Laccifer lecca) used as an ingredient of wood coatings.

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shellac

A resin extracted and purified from matter secreted by insects; dissolved in alcohol or a similar solvent in the manufacture of shellac varnish.

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Shellac 

a natural resin secreted by the lac insect, which parasitizes tropical and subtropical woody plants. Shellac apparently consists mainly of aliphatic polyhydroxy acids. It is freely soluble in alkalies and lower aliphatic alcohols, poorly soluble in benzene, and almost insoluble in gasoline, fats, and oils. Shellac is peeled off the tree bark, processed with hot water, melted, and filtered. It may be dark colored, orange, or light colored. Colorless shellac is obtained by bleaching the colored types with animal charcoal, bleaching powder, or sodium sulfate. Shellac has limited uses, principally in the manufacture of alcohol varnishes and polishes.